Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
  • A01G—HORTICULTURE; CULTIVATION OF VEGETABLES, FLOWERS, RICE, FRUIT, VINES, HOPS OR SEAWEED; FORESTRY; WATERING
  • A01G22/00—Cultivation of specific crops or plants not otherwise provided for
  • A01G22/15—Leaf crops, e.g. lettuce or spinach 
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
  • A01D—HARVESTING; MOWING
  • A01D45/00—Harvesting of standing crops
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
  • C07C—ACYCLIC OR CARBOCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
  • C07C37/00—Preparation of compounds having hydroxy or O-metal groups bound to a carbon atom of a six-membered aromatic ring
  • C07C37/004—Preparation of compounds having hydroxy or O-metal groups bound to a carbon atom of a six-membered aromatic ring by obtaining phenols from plant material or from animal material
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
  • C07C—ACYCLIC OR CARBOCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
  • C07C37/00—Preparation of compounds having hydroxy or O-metal groups bound to a carbon atom of a six-membered aromatic ring
  • C07C37/68—Purification; separation; Use of additives, e.g. for stabilisation
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
  • C07C—ACYCLIC OR CARBOCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
  • C07C37/00—Preparation of compounds having hydroxy or O-metal groups bound to a carbon atom of a six-membered aromatic ring
  • C07C37/68—Purification; separation; Use of additives, e.g. for stabilisation
  • C07C37/70—Purification; separation; Use of additives, e.g. for stabilisation by physical treatment
  • C07C37/74—Purification; separation; Use of additives, e.g. for stabilisation by physical treatment by distillation
  • C07C37/76—Purification; separation; Use of additives, e.g. for stabilisation by physical treatment by distillation by steam distillation
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
  • Y02P—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS
  • Y02P60/00—Technologies relating to agriculture, livestock or agroalimentary industries
  • Y02P60/14—Measures for saving energy, e.g. in green houses

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a method for producing Monarda Fistulosa for the efficient harvest of carvacrol essential oil.
• Some plant essential oils have long been known to possess properties that can be employed as food or flavoring, and for medicinal and industrial purposes. Different plant species provide different oils. For example, peppermint for the peppermint plant's leaves which provides flavoring is sometimes used as an aid for digestive issues. And clove oil is extracted from flowers and used for flavoring, scent, and various historical medicinal purposes. Eucalyptus oil, produced from the leaves of Eucalyptus globulus is used in many cleaning solutions and as an antiseptic.
• Geraniol is used in perfumes.
• Thymol is used in mouthwash as an antiseptic and has been shown to have antifungal activity, as well.
• Carvacrol may also be used as an antimicrobial, antifungal and as a flavoring.
• Cultivation for research or seed purposes may include transfer of the plants from their native growth area to a different geography, climate or soil type or a combination of these. Natural travel of seeds from one area to another may also result in new habitats for a given plant wherein the new habitat may include differing climate, soil, or pests from those in the original habitat. It has been noted that such transfer may result not only indifferent physical characteristics of the plant m response to the environmental differences, but that these changes may, in turn, result in different ratios of the oils produced by the plant.
• Monarda is a genus consisting of about 16 species.
• the plants are erect, herbaceous, annual or perennial plants in the family Lamiaceae and are native North America.
• the plants typically range in height from 1 to 3 feet (0.2 to 0.9 m), the plants have an equal spread, with slender and long-tapering (lanceolate) leaves.
• the leaves when crushed, exude a spicy, highly fragrant oil.
• Common names include bee balm, horsemint, oswego tea, and bergamot, among others.
• Sweet Monarda was crossed with other Monarda. Then the oils of the crosses and of the Sweet Monarda were studied using chromatography of the leaf oil. The researchers found that oil from the nonsweet Monarda was moderately viscous and was reported clear and colorless whereas oil from Sweet Monarda smelled sweet. Chromatograms showed that oil form the Sweet Monarda included far more geraniol but far less thymol and carvacrol than the non-sweet Monarda plants tested.
• weeds were reported as being easily controlled by herbicides such as trifluralin, terbaacil, solan, and paraquat.
• herbicides such as trifluralin, terbaacil, solan, and paraquat.
• hydrodistillation was employed to extract the oils which were then subjected to gas chromatography and mass spectrometry.
• One of the hybrids showed a high level of geraniol; this hybrid is now grown in southern Alberta, Canada for geraniol production.
• Rust otherwise known as Puccinia menthe, was reported as the major disease of the sterile Monarda (Mazza, 1993) causing defoliation, stem damage and degeneration of plants. Recommendations for control of rust include application of the herbicide paraquat in early spring. This article also reported variations of essential oil yields between about 0.65 and 1.2 g/100 g of fresh plant material or between about 60-125 kg of oil/ha.
• Monarda fistulosa has been cultivated as a seed for wildflower planting purposes rather than for oil production albeit some plants have been selected for geraniol production.
• Monarda fistulosa is an erect aromatic annual or perennial plant which bears pretty pinkish/lavender flowers. It is often used in wildflower seed mixes and in prairie restoration projects.
• Recommended methods for cultivation of Monarda fistulosa include planting rates of between about 0.25 lbs/ acre and 2 lbs/acre, and cutting and or splitting the plants to increase them, etc.
• the present invention includes a recommended planting rate and cultivation methodology that has heretofore been unknown.
• the method increases germination, decreases herbicide use and fuel use, and increases the yield of Monarda fistulosa oil.
• known recommended planting rates for Monarda fistulosa ranged from about 0.25 to up to 2 lbs per acre (Monarda fistulosa contains 1,120,000 seeds/lb) for producing seeds for use in wildflower seed mixes and prairie grasses, it was surprisingly found that these rates did not provide the better means for cultivating and harvesting the plants and the desired essential oils they contained.
• weed pressure causes a decrease in yield of oil, and causes an increase in levels of unwanted contaminants associated with those weeds (e.g.
• the soil compression provided by the roller provides a better barrier for retaining moisture and for protection against birds or other pests while the seeds germinate.
• the present invention recommends planting rates ranging from about 2.5 lbs/acre to about 5 lbs/acre or, more preferably, around about 4 lbs/acre either via broadcast seeding or drilling. Further, the method includes rolling the ground securing the soil around drilled or broadcast seeds to seal in moisture. In some embodiments, the method advises no harvest the first season but, rather, regular mowing.
• embodiments provide recommended methods of weed control that are plant-population dependent, others employ herbicides or some combination of the two. Recommendations regarding pesticide use and fertilizer application are also provided.
• the method advocates certain practices related to harvesting Monarda fistulosa for best yield of the desired oil and describes means and method for separating the oil from the plant.
• the method includes recommended best practices for the maintenance of the perennial and number of seasons for production prior to destruction.
• one of the preferred embodiments includes drilling seed or broadcast seed application of between about 2.5 lbs and about 5 lbs per acre, more preferably between about 3.5 lbs and about 4.51bs per acre, and most preferably around 4 lbs per acre.
• a recommended method is the use of a roller across the field to both compact the soil to a degree and to seal in moisture. Seeding is done in the spring of the year.
• Fig. 1 flow chart describing the cultivation process
• FIG. 2 perspective view of means for transporting
• FIG. 3 end view of means for transporting
• FIG. 4 schematic illustrating steam distillation components.
• the present invention comprises planting seed of Monarda fistulosa in a field at a rate between about 2.5 lbs per acre and about 5 lbs per acre and more preferably between about 3.5 and 4.5 lbs per acre, mowing the field regularly the first year, and then harvesting it in years thereafter.
• the lifetime of plants 14 for a single planting is typically 5-7 harvests, but may be longer or shorter depending on soil conditions, climate and husbandry practices.
• the equipment used to condition the field, plant the seed, mow the plants, cut the plants, and gather the plants may each be of any type readily known and understood by one of skill in the art. Examples of each of these types of equipment are provided herein by machine producer's brand name but they are provided strictly for purposes of example, and not for limitation.
• the field 12 is prepared 2 by routine tilling, field cultivating, discing or other means for turning or loosening the upper layer of soil.
• a disc 16 by CaselH, Krause, or other implement dealer may be used.
• seed 10 then may be drilled or broadcast. When drilled, spacing of about 8 inches to about 10 inches is desired. Although many permissible drills exist, two examples are produced by Brillion or Taka. Alternatively, the seed 10 may be broadcast. Again, a variety of acceptable broadcasting devices are available such as a TerraGator. In either case, broadcasting or drilling, seed 10 should be planted at the rates mentioned above.
• planting via drill or broadcast or other means
• rolling or other soil compression activities 6 are preferably followed by rolling or other soil compression activities 6.
• An example of an acceptable roller device is a Riteway model 4300 which weighs between 15,800 lbs and 23,500 pounds.
• Rolling or other compression actions are preferably completed the same day as the field is cultivated and also, and more critically, within 2 to 48 hours after drilling or broadcasting seed. The timing is recommended in order to avoid overdrying the soil, protect the seeds from birds, and to compress the soil enough to create a seal to assist in retaining moisture to improve germination percentages for the seeds.
• the field 12 should be mowed 8 on a regular basis.
• mowing may be done as often as 4-6 times in a season or as infrequently as 2-4 times. Weeds grow much faster in the first season than does the Monarda, so mowing is aimed to keep the weed height reduced to allow the Mondarda to become established. Mowing should be done to maintain the field between about 8 and 10 inches and, more preferably when they are about 8 inches tall, as many times in the first season as needed to keep the plants less than about 8 to 10 inches high. At the end of the first growing season, the plants are left around 8 inches tall to catch snowfall. Any suitable mowing machine 24 may be employed. For example, several models of the Woods bat- wing mower work well.
• the planting rate, the growth rate, the size of the plants, and the Mondarda' s own chemical defenses result in a crop that typically requires no further herbicide treatments but for, perhaps, an occasional weed patch which may be controlled via hand sprayer or physical removal
• Monarda fistulosa plants produce a lavender colored fragrant flower.
• the plants are harvested at flower peak which, in the Midwest, is generally early to mid July.
• Harvest of Monarda fistulosa fields cultivated in the manner of the present invention may be accomplished in several ways using various equipment.
• a preferred method is to employ is a MacDon draper or any other cutting machine to cut 12 the plants 14 with flowers attached and leave them lay where they were cut.
• the cut plants should remain in the field for 2 - 8 hours, preferably 2 - 6 hours and more preferably 4-6 hours 16. It is best, but not critical, that these hours be warm and sunny. Leaving the plants lay starts the process of oil release from the inter cellular pockets within the plant.
• the cut plants 14 are then gathered by a suitable device such as a forage chopper 18 and placed in means to transport 30 them from the field.
• means to transport 30 the cut plants 14 comprises a generally watertight wagon having a floor 32, two sides 34, 36, and two ends 38 and 40 with multiple ports 41-45 near the floor 32 in one of the ends 38 or 40
• the wagon 30 just described is used in one of several methods for removing oil from Monarda fistulosa, specifically steam distillation.
• Steam distillation of oil from plants is old in the art and works on the principle that steaming the cut plants encourages release of the plants' essential oils via rupture of the plant's oil sacs which are taken up with the steam.
• a boiler 48 creates steam 50.
• the steam 50 travels through a conduit 51 to said means to transport 30 and enters through ports 41-45 near the floor 32 .
• the steam travels upward and with oil 52 is removed through the port 56 into a second conduit 58.
• the steam 50 and oil 52 is run through a condenser 54 which causes the oil 52 and water in the steam 50 to separate allowing the oil 52 to be recovered 22.
• a steam input 61 is connected to each port 41-45.
• the method of cultivation just described increases germination, decreases herbicide use and fuel use, and increases the yield of Monarda fistulosa oil.
• Oil yield from various methods of cultivation are presented on Table 1. Further, the above- mentioned cultivation method results in oil content that is commercially desirable, namely, increased amounts of carvacrol.
• known recommended planting rates for Monarda fistulosa ranged from about 0.25 to up to 2 lbs per acre (Monarda fistulosa contains 1,120,000 seeds/lb), it was surprisingly found that these rates did not provide the better means for cultivating and harvesting the plants and the desired essential oils they contained. Oil quality is high at least partially due to the reduction and near elimination of weed pressure and its resulting contamination.
• distillation may be accomplished in other ways; seeds may be planted via hand, or via traditional planters, or other seed planting devices not yet known.
• New effective herbicides may become known.
• New Monarda hybrids may be developed and it may be determined that other mans may be employed to increase oil production even more, specifically the level of carvacrol in the Monarda. Therefore, within the scope of the appended claims, the present invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

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• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Organic Chemistry (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Environmental Sciences (AREA)
• Botany (AREA)
• Cultivation Of Plants (AREA)
• Agricultural Chemicals And Associated Chemicals (AREA)
• Catching Or Destruction (AREA)
• Pretreatment Of Seeds And Plants (AREA)

Priority Applications (5)

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Publications (1)

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Family Applications (1)

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Citations (2)

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• 2012
  • 2012-01-26 US US13/359,045 patent/US9029610B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2013
  • 2013-01-22 BR BR112014018549A patent/BR112014018549A8/pt not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2013-01-22 PE PE2014001183A patent/PE20150019A1/es not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2013-01-22 CA CA2862945A patent/CA2862945C/en active Active
  • 2013-01-22 WO PCT/US2013/022471 patent/WO2013112437A1/en active Application Filing
  • 2013-01-22 HK HK15104853.1A patent/HK1204338A1/xx unknown
  • 2013-01-22 CA CA3061144A patent/CA3061144A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2013-01-22 CN CN201380009570.0A patent/CN104136617A/zh active Pending
  • 2013-01-22 EP EP13740865.4A patent/EP2807261A4/en not_active Withdrawn

Patent Citations (2)

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